“ON THE CONTRARY” – by Des Kelly
Above, were the famous ‘last words’ of one Henric Ibsen, better known as the ‘Father of Realism’, but was, in reality, a Norwegian Playwright of many long years ago, who was also a famous Theatre Director and generally a well-educated Gentleman of his time.
However, even people of this calibre have to die at sometime, and it was just the day prior to his death, when a friend came to see him in hospital and questioned a Nurse who was on duty as to how Henric was, and she answered that he was actually “getting better”.
Henric, lying there, on his yet to be, deathbed, stuttered his own diagnosis in his three final words, “On the contrary”, which, in fact, was the correct diagnosis, because the reputed man breathed his last, on the following day.
What has all this got to do with Paul Keating, a former Labour Prime Minister of Australia, who has just finished a most interesting television gig on the ABC TV Channel 24, expounding his usual rhetoric, on somebody/thing, close to his heart ??, well, for all e’Lankans who were very unfortunate to miss this most intriguing programme, it has been ‘captured’ on a special programme itself, that has to be watched by anyone wishing to know what is going on, in this World of ours. I can tell you the whole answer, but ON THE CONTRARY, invite you good people to watch this former P.M. of Australia ‘do his thing’.
My personal answer to this important question might be to agree with Mr.Keating, but, ON THE CONTRARY, remind everyone that this former Prime Minister, super-educated & rhetoric-wise, as he is, seems to forget that during HIS Prime Ministership, it was a totally different “BALL-GAME” as far as the ‘other side of the coin’ was concerned. This coin was ‘tossed’ by a different Referee, as well. Shall I go on with the story, ?,
ON THE CONTRARY, here is the video. Make up your own mind about it.
Desmond Kelly. (Mr.Music)
(Editor-in-Chief). e’Lanka.
